Wenger: Gunners have shown steel
The Gunners head to Newcastle with their destiny in their own hands, currently in fourth place after beating FA Cup winners Wigan in midweek. It’s a far cry from earlier in the campaign when a home defeat by Swansea on December 2 left them in 10th place.
While depending on other results at Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane, Arsenal — who are a point ahead of Tottenham and two behind Chelsea — could of course still yet finish fifth or indeed sneak up into third place, Wenger maintains his often-criticised squad have passed their test of character.
“It is always down to mental strength in our job, and to quality,” said Wenger. “Maybe for some period we had negative results but we responded, that shows that we have the mental strength and that we came back.”
Wenger, who confirmed the club were closing in on the free transfer of France under-21 forward Yaya Sanogo from Auxerre continued: “Overall we have shown the attitude, the focus and I am convinced that my players will be rewarded because they have shown that mental strength through the difficult periods of the season and I must give my players a huge credit.
“When we were under severe pressure, they didn’t talk and worked very hard in a united way and that is why I really want them to be rewarded.”
The statistics between Europa League winners Chelsea and Arsenal are so close that should the Gunners win by a two-goal margin and the Blues slip up at home to Everton, then Wenger’s men would take third place and with it automatic entry into next season’s group stages.
However, if the Gunners were to win 2-1 at Newcastle and Chelsea draw 0-0, then the two London clubs would be locked together and, under Premier League regulations, sent into a play-off.
Wenger, though, accepts should his men fail to win at St James’ Park, then those scenarios would be redundant.
“I would fancy that,” said the Arsenal manager. “But a play-off exists only if win the game [at Newcastle], so let’s win the game and see what happens.
“The biggest task is to win the game and not speculate too much on what happens after because the first compulsory thing we face is to win the game on Sunday.”
Wenger maintains he will not be keeping an ear out for any updates from White Hart Lane. “We will not listen to that at all,” he said.
“Certainly some members of my staff (might), I cannot control everybody. but I just focus on us winning the game.”
Arsenal look set to be without midfielder Mikel Arteta (calf), so Jack Wilshere, the England international set for summer surgery to clear up a niggling ankle problem, is on standby.
Striker Olivier Giroud is, though, available again following his three-match suspension.
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